Workers have themselves to blame
Apr 19, 2010
EDITOR—Ugandan workers have been taken for a ride and it is time to change the status quo. In Parliament we have five NRM mPs ‘representing’ workers. They are Charles Bakabulindi, Joram Pajobo, Teopsita Nabulya, Mary Tuunde Nalubega and Sam Lyomoki.
EDITOR—Ugandan workers have been taken for a ride and it is time to change the status quo. In Parliament we have five NRM mPs ‘representing’ workers. They are Charles Bakabulindi, Joram Pajobo, Teopsita Nabulya, Mary Tuunde Nalubega and Sam Lyomoki.
The question is, who do workers’ MPs in a multiparty dispensation represent in Parliament? Is it the NRM or workers of Uganda? If workers or civil servants are supposed to be non- partisan how come their representation is on a particular party ticket? Haven’t the workers themselves through their naivety kept themselves in the bondage of poor pay? Who organises the elections to vote workers’ MPs into office? Where is the representation for the workers in the opposition parties?
I suspect that the NRM MPs, especially the workers’ MPs will not negotiate for workers. A living wage for workers in this country is not an urgent issue and it is not hard to see why. It cannot be achieved if those who are supposed to negotiate are sympathisers of the Government!
The NSSF saga, for example, was a still birth because the NRM majority used a minority report which was supported by all ‘our’ workers’ MPs! Should we be taken for a ride again to elect redundant workers’ MPs? The workers have themselves to blame.
The trade unionists seem to think that that someone has to be sympathetic with the Government to win bread.
The Labour Party in the UK is a meaningful party consisting of workers who really determine the destiny of workers. In Uganda, we think along tribal, clan and district handouts! The destiny of Uganda cannot be left to the peasants as President Museveni has always said.
I just mentioned recently that teachers, doctors, and all the workers have 90 percent contributed to the poor governance of this country. How do we fail to achieve a living wage and end up stealing with impunity? Almost all the Government resources are stolen by high profile and highly educated Ugandans!
Poor working conditions cannot be used to explain this. Everybody just thinks about themselves. Where is the future of our children? If workers cannot organise the country then who can?
James William Mugeni
Tororo
The question is, who do workers’ MPs in a multiparty dispensation represent in Parliament? Is it the NRM or workers of Uganda? If workers or civil servants are supposed to be non- partisan how come their representation is on a particular party ticket? Haven’t the workers themselves through their naivety kept themselves in the bondage of poor pay? Who organises the elections to vote workers’ MPs into office? Where is the representation for the workers in the opposition parties?
I suspect that the NRM MPs, especially the workers’ MPs will not negotiate for workers. A living wage for workers in this country is not an urgent issue and it is not hard to see why. It cannot be achieved if those who are supposed to negotiate are sympathisers of the Government!
The NSSF saga, for example, was a still birth because the NRM majority used a minority report which was supported by all ‘our’ workers’ MPs! Should we be taken for a ride again to elect redundant workers’ MPs? The workers have themselves to blame.
The trade unionists seem to think that that someone has to be sympathetic with the Government to win bread.
The Labour Party in the UK is a meaningful party consisting of workers who really determine the destiny of workers. In Uganda, we think along tribal, clan and district handouts! The destiny of Uganda cannot be left to the peasants as President Museveni has always said.
I just mentioned recently that teachers, doctors, and all the workers have 90 percent contributed to the poor governance of this country. How do we fail to achieve a living wage and end up stealing with impunity? Almost all the Government resources are stolen by high profile and highly educated Ugandans!
Poor working conditions cannot be used to explain this. Everybody just thinks about themselves. Where is the future of our children? If workers cannot organise the country then who can?
James William Mugeni
Tororo